Hosted by Koç University in Istanbul from June 17 to 19, 2026, this 2nd UNIC Thematic Conference will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss institutional responses to the challenges facing post-industrial cities.

The event will explores how local governments, healthcare systems, schools, universities, and civil society adapt to growing inequalities, demographic shifts, and emerging urban challenges. It will also consider how institutions, through everyday interactions and governance practices, shape both individual well-being and collective belonging within increasingly diverse urban contexts.

Thematic streams

The event is structured around two main thematic streams:

• Justice, Security, and Institutional Dynamics: Resilience and Legitimacy : This stream explores how institutions respond to crises, uphold justice, and adapt in times of democratic volatility, digital transformation, and growing societal complexity. It is concerned with institutional and digital resilience, inclusivity, and legitimacy in the face of multiple crises including conflicts, economic inequality, and threats to democracy.
• Health and Wellbeing in Post-Industrial Cities: Institutions, Inequalities and Transformations : This stream examines how health and well-being are shaped by institutional transformation, social inequalities, and urban change. It focuses on inclusive and adaptive health policies, infrastructure, and governance in diverse and superdiverse urban contexts.

A transversal theme of Superdiversity runs through both streams, focusing on issues of inclusion, belonging, and how diverse urban populations navigate and are shaped by institutional practices 

Call for contributions